Weekly Hike - Manayunk Staircase Challenge

WEEKLY HIKE - MANAYUNK STAIRCASE CHALLENGE
(6.3 Miles | 1,200 Feet of Elevation)

DESCRIPTION
Join us for our weekly, weekday evening hike.

Most people would not believe you could get 1,000 or more feet in elevation in a city as flat as Philadelphia unless you ran up and down the same hill in the Wissahickon 10 times or climbed to the top of one of the city's famous skyscrapers step by step. Well, you can - hint....steps! There are 15 staircases that connect the neighborhoods of Manayunk and Roxborough and on this hike, one a month, we climb them all but one in the winter time. Okay 13 are really the famous stairs, one of them is really an old railroad bridge crossing. But who cares! This is a chance to work on your cardio, check out a cool part of the city, and get an awesome workout in while outside breathing fresh air! While we will wait for everyone at the top of each staircase, this isn't a hike for people that aren't active and aren't willing to do the cardio work! Just for fun towards the end we will climb up Lyceum Avenue, known locally as "The Manayunk Wall" - one of the steepest streets in the city and made famous the by old, now defunct pro cycling championship that once called the city home...if it's not too hot/humid. If it's hot and humid we will forgo the wall and extend the hike mileage wise to get equivalent cardio in. Join us for some fun, some laughs, and a good total body workou!

TERRAIN | OBSTACLES | PACE

• PLEASE NOTE - This is a city hike. There are broken sidewalks, tree roots, staircases, and other places to trip and fall. A few of the staircases have seen better days so please be careful though I always try to point out the danger spots. There are also plenty of street crossings and walking along streets with no sidewalks so you need to be aware of traffic - vehicular, pedestrian, cyclists, etc.
• LENGTH: 6.25 Miles (target)
• ELEVATION: 1,000 Feet+ (1,200 is target)
• SPEED: 3.0 mph average
• We always wait at the top of each staircase for a minute or two for people to catch their breath before moving on.

BASIC INFO

• DAY & DATE: Tuesday May 27th, 2025
• START TIME: 7:00 PM (AND WE START ON TIME!)
• STARTING LOCATION: REGAL UA MAIN STREET
• ADDRESS: 3720 Main St, Manayunk, PA 19127
• LENGTH: 6.25 Miles +/- (6.25 is target)
• ELEVATION: 1,000 Feet+ (1,200 is target)
• SPEED: 3 mph average
• END TIME: Target is 9:30pm.

GEAR:

• Hiking boots/shoes (sneakers okay too - may even be better because of cement)
• Water
• Appropriate clothing - hats, rain jackets, etc. as needed
• A change of clothes and/or towel for after (at your discretion)
• Headlamps not necessary for this but okay to bring as there are a few staircases that are dark and a bit beat up and broken
• Snacks (as you see fit)
• Beer or other drink for before the hike.

PARKING

• We will gather in the parking lot away from the stores/shops near the Pencoyd Bridge
• Free parking
• DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN or anything visible in your car.
• I'll post a comment and/or upload a photo with map pin when I arrive

BATHROOMS/BREAKS

• As with every weeknight hike, no long breaks on this. Just a bunch of short one to two minute breaks at the top of each staircase for water and breath catching
• Bathrooms available only at the starting/end point (maybe)

AFTERWARDS

• If there's interest we can either go out afterwards for food & drinks or maybe even go back to my house in East Falls for a firepit and some merriment.

CANCELLATIONS

• I do not cancel hikes for inclement weather. It must be dangerous conditions during the hike or dangerous travel conditions to/from for me to cancel. If I ever do need to cancel or postpone I try to do so as early as possible.
• You may cancel at anytime up to and including the start time of the hike. Cancellations without contacting me after the start of an event counts as a no-show. More than 3 no-shows gets you removed from the group. If something happens, I get it, reach out and just tell me after. I've been there - hungover, busy, etc. Just be polite, and brief, if you miss and forget to cancel.